Ambient Devices has joined the ZigBee Alliance, a nonprofit association driving development ZigBee standards. In addition, Ambient Devices' Energy Joule has undergone testing and is now ZigBee Certified.

"Ambient Devices is pleased to join the ZigBee Alliance," says Pritesh Gandhi, CEO of Ambient Devices. "ZigBee is the leader in the global evolution towards energy-efficient wireless monitoring, and Ambient is looking forward to collaborating with other Alliance members to continue developing standards that encourage smarter and more sustainable energy choices."

Ambient says its energy products offer utilities tools to guide their customers into making smarter energy consumption choices, and the Energy Joule enables customers to manage their energy usage. The ZigBee Certified products, for the ZigBee Smart Energy standard, pulse and change colors to forewarn users when power supplies are strained.

“Ambient Devices’ Energy Joule is a unique energy management product that we were pleased to see earn ZigBee Certified product status,” says Ryan Maley, vice president of strategy at the ZigBee Alliance. “The Joule should allow utility companies to relay information about their customer’s energy consumption and any demand response information in real time, encouraging smarter energy consumption.”

Months after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its Clean Power Plan, which will create new regulations for existing power plants, the agency says it has received loads of feedback to consider.